Cosleeping and illness...

Not sure this is the right place to post this, but I am wondering what you cosleeping moms do when you have a bad cough and can't take anything for it because you sleep with your baby. My baby will be 8 months on the 11th and I don't know how long I need to be hypervigilant when I co-sleep with her. I am assuming that taking dextromethorphan (DM) isn't a good idea with an 8 month old because of how it can affect my sleep. Do you ladies have any ideas or suggestions? I am not dealing with this yet, but I usually get a cough this season, so I am just wondering what my options are. I have always co slept and I just don't think she would sleep without me, but I don't want to put her in any danger from me being on something that would make me less responsive to her when we are sleeping.

Re: Cosleeping and illness...

Humidifier, vaporizer, elderberry tea, probiotic/kefir, neti pot.

3/2011 {EBF to 6mos, now BF and BLS, CD, EC'ing since 5mos - in underwear at 11mos, and babywearing} Babywearing International has chapters - see if there's one near you... most have lending libraries!

Re: Cosleeping and illness...

Ooh, didn't think about this...I agree with PP, have used those in the past without a LO and have had good success. I've also had good luck with the product Sambucol stopping any respiritory stuff in its tracks...it's elderberrry extract (i've also made my own, but I might just suck it up and buy this to ensure good potency if/when I get sick) so as far as I know, safe for nursing.

Re: Cosleeping and illness...

I have to have cough drops and water nearby or my coughing wakes him up. I don't take cold meds in general but not really because of nursing. I think expectorant type stuff is ok though- it won't affect supply like decongestants can. And those won't make you drowsy. Just a thought

Mama to five beautiful kids- 9, 8, 3, 2 and currently nursing our new baby girl born 1/20/2013

"It should not be necessary to tell reasonably intelligent mammals to suckle and not dismember their neonates." ~Susan Blustein

Re: Cosleeping and illness...

I am just getting over a cold I had earlier this week and didn't take anything b/c still nursing quite a bit. I did tea and honey, on the worst night I did a huge honey lollipop lozenge for sore throat, took hot showers for the steam, used a humidifer every night, also saline nasal spray was super effective for nasal congestion. i've used hot peppers in the past also for nasal congestion with some success.

also i think you can use baby vicks vaporub on yourself but I didn't this time around